Wesley Saunders Updated NBA Draft Scouting Report

Wesley Saunders ends his collegiate career as part of the most successful Harvard class ever, as the Crimson reached four straight NCAA Tournaments in his time, including two NCAA Tournament wins. The 2013-14 Ivy League Player of the Year and a three-time Ivy League All-Conference First Teamer, Saunders now turns his eyes to his professional basketball career after a narrow first round NCAA Tournament loss to North Carolina. Saunders took on a heavy offensive load in his senior season and averaged 20.5 points and 5.2 assists per 40 minutes adjusted, to go along with 7.4 rebounds and 2.2 steals.

Measured at 6'4.5 without shoes with a solid 6'8.5 wingspan at the 2015 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, Saunders has the size to compete on the wing in the NBA. He also has a solid 218 pound frame as well to help him be physical on the perimeter with opposing guards. All-around, he has solid athleticism although none of his individual physical traits stand out from the pack. While he was one of the most athletic players in the Ivy, he did not stand out physically against the elite-level competition of Virginia and North Carolina.

Saunders is a skilled shooting guard who proved to be very capable of handling the ball and being a primary facilitator in the Crimson offense. He was a capable pick and roll player and was able to use the ball screens effectively to get his offense. He was able to get into the lane and is able to pull up off the dribble, where he shot 37% according to Synergy Sports Technology, despite sporting lackluster mechanics on his shot. At times, he struggled to get all the way to the rim, especially against the athletic defenders he would face in the NBA, forcing him into a contested long two point attempt.

Saunders is not the most creative ball-handler around, relying heavily on his strength to overpower defenders in the lane, which can lead to some awkward shots just outside the paint or from the mid-range area when he can't get a step on his man.

However, Saunders has shown the ability to distribute and create offense for his teammates as well as just scoring, as he posted 5.1 assists per 40 minutes pace adjusted fourth among shooting guards in our top 100 prospects. He doesn't make flashy passes but he keeps his teammates involved and the ball moving within the Harvard offense.

When Saunders is able to get to the rim, he isn't a great finisher as he averaged just 49.5% on shots at the rim in the half-court according to Synergy Sports Technology. He is uncomfortable finishing with his left and almost always finds a way to get back to his right hand. His lack of explosiveness hurts his ability to finish around longer big men, so he counters this with an effective runner once he gets to the paint, which he uses well to convert at close range.

One area Saunders improved upon in his senior season was his perimeter shooting. Converting just 27.3% of his 33 three-point field goal attempts his junior season, Saunders shot 43.1% on 72 threes his senior season. The very limited sample size of just 2.6 attempts per game leaves a lot to be desired, though, and Saunders' highly inconsistent mechanics will likely be a hindrance in converting to the NBA 3-point line unless he is able to revamp his shot and find a more repetitive stroke. Saunders is a flat-footed jump-shooter, even in off the dribble situations, and sports a slow and deliberate release on his shot (sometimes with an ugly hitch) that will make it difficult to get off against better defenders. This is likely one of the reasons he attempts so few jumpers, despite his strong percentages as a senior. Showing that he can be a consistent outside shooter will be a major key to his draft stock and he'll have to do his best during pre-draft workouts to impress scouts.

Defensively, Saunders is a bit of a mixed bag and could turn into either an asset or a source of frustration at the next level. In on-ball situations, he can move his feet well laterally and use his strong frame to contain penetration, and his long arms to contest shots.

The problem is he doesn't always get in a stance, which can see him get beat off the dribble or caught in screens, taking him out of the play. When he is focused defensively, he can cut off dribble penetration, and get over the top of screens, but his energy level isn't always where it needs to be to get the job done consistently. Saunders generally seems to have a very laid back approach to the game, but when he's fully engaged and playing with aggressiveness, he can be quite a handful, on both ends of the floor.

Heading into the pre-draft process, Saunders will need to show he can be a consistent outside shooter to complement the offensive versatility he showed in his four years at Harvard. After laying a foundation for future success for the Crimson, he'll hope to become the first player from the Ivy League drafted since Penn's Jerome Allen in 1995. Even if Saunders doesn't get drafted, he should find numerous professional opportunities and may play his way into the NBA at some point during his career.

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